FIGHT or FLIGHT

9th – 22nd September, 2013

Opening Night:
Thursday 12th of September, 6.30 – 9.00pm

Trina Collins, who works under the pseudonym Poncho Army, is an artist who isn’t afraid to get some paint under her fingernails. Known for her detailed line work and signature splatter paint skies, she has appeared in numerous gallery shows, been a finalist in multiple art prizes, and exhibited alongside many leading urban and contemporary artists including Banksy, Kid Zoom, ROA, Vexta, Arthur Apanski and Anthony Lister.

In June 2012 ArtsHub named Poncho Army as one of the top ten street artists in Australia. Her work is held in collections around the world including New York, Japan, London, Melbourne and Sydney. From June 2012 to June 2013 Poncho Army was the artist in residence at Wollongong City Gallery. Here she locked herself in the 80sqm studio and worked on a new series titled FIGHT or FLIGHT.

FIGHT or FLIGHT is a 13 piece linear series of work that depicts the story of an old man whose home is about to be destroyed. As the aged man is left with no fight in his withered body, two young girls take it upon themselves to help him win his war. The journey takes the girls from the city to the mountains, deep into the forest and out to the ocean. Along the way they cross paths with others who are also faced with the decision of whether to fight or take flight.

The series explores contrasts – between urban and rural spaces, internal and external realities, melancholy and joy, young and old, win or lose and between freedom and confinement. The works centre on themes such as feelings of claustrophobia in an increasingly controlled society, the nightmare of being forgotten and abandoned, and the relief of finding community and of being found.

Combining hand drawn illustrations, screen printing and stencil art FIGHT or FLIGHT is a series that will be admired by young urban art lovers and fine art collectors alike. Each work will be a limited edition aerosol coloured screen print of 55.